April 2023 Alumnus of the Month: Clive Dickens
Alumnus of the Month: April 2023
Clive Dickens is our Verulam School Alumnus of the Month. Clive left Verulam School in the 80s and is now living in Sydney Australia.
Please tell us a little about yourself – where do you work and how did you get into this role?
I work for Telco here in Sydney Australia called ‘Optus’ – It’s similar to EE/BT and I look after our exclusive English Premier League rights via our app Optus Sport. I have worked for Optus for four years and since leaving Verulam in the 80s have always worked in Media across the world
What are some of your proudest achievements since leaving Verulam School?
I advised the founders of a music discovery app called Shazam (www.shazam.com) that was sold to Apple a couple of years ago. I co-founded the Absolute Radio (www.absoluteradio.co.Uk) radio brand in London that now has over 5m listeners and I exported the successful Code Club charity (www.codeclubau.org) (from England to Australia. My proudest achievements though are our family and children Tilley (20) and Oscar (17)
What advice would you give someone looking to follow a similar career path?
Start early, use new software and home tools to create audio, video, scripts and graphics. Network endlessly and work harder than the next person and keep dreaming. Establish mentors and consume all media to listen/watch to learn fast.
How have your experiences at Verulam School contributed to your life and successes since leaving school?
Undoubtedly – I left Verulam in the 5th year to start working part time at the local radio station Chiltern (Now Heart) my experience in School Plays, Clubs, after school events and amazing inspirational teachers all helped shape who I am today
What House were you in at Verulam School and can you describe one of your fondest memories?
I was proud member of Hamilton and my fondest memory was being co-responsible for installing the sound system in the main hall to allow to have music at Assembly each week. It was all going so well until one week I was allowed to choose the (classical) music we had to listen and I decided to play Us & Them by Pink Floyd as I felt the lyrics were poignant to the time – Headmaster Morgan was not impressed and I was summoned to his office and received a double detention – it was worth to see everyone’s reaction.
What’s next?
I am responsible for broadcasting the Fifa Women’s World Cup here in Australia and New Zealand from July 2023 and with the England Lionesses as European Champions and the US as World Champions it’s going to be an amazing event. Just have to choose between England or Australia’s Matilda’s as my team – hard decision.
We love hearing what our alumni have been doing since leaving Verulam School. Each month, we are inviting a member of our alumni community to share their story of life after Verulam. If you’re an alumnus who would like to take part, or you’d like to volunteer an alumnus that you know, then please drop us an email.
